How to Create Cascading Ribbon on your Christmas Tree

Posted by Katie Grabner on Dec 09, 2017

Below I will be sharing how I created this cascading ribbon effect on my Christmas tree. This year we used a fake tree for the very first time ever! We have always went out every year and bought a real tree and even throughout my entire childhood we also had real trees.

Why did we make the switch this year? For one, we were tired of the mess with the needles. This year, with a little crawler on the ground, we figured it would be best to not have the needles all over. Our 10 month old daughter, puts everything she finds on the ground in to her mouth. She will find any missed crumb and in to her mouth it goes. We also don't miss climbing under the tree every other day to water it. It was so easy this year not having to string our lights as well! To be completely honest, I have been ready for fake tree. It has brought many conveniences to our lives this year with young children. I haven't looked back and I haven't missed it! The reason I bring this all up, is that this cascading effect is much easier to achieve with fake tree. The branches are flexible and easy to maneuver in ways you will need to keep the ribbon in place. See below to learn how I did this!

The Ribbon needs to be thick. I personally think a 3 inch thickness works well. The ribbon also must be wired! Pick a pattern and direction you would like to go in to give a cohesive look, like below.

I like to do three to four swoops on the tree. You will need a LOT more ribbon than you think. I suggest that you purchase double the amount that you think you will need and return whatever you do not use. I didn't even go through an entire spool of ribbon for my tree, but I used it all over my house and I liked having a cohesive look throughout. These spools area also huge, 100 ft.

Cut about 7-8 ft of ribbon for three loops on the tree, you need more than you think! I was always trying to achieve four loops, but I never cut enough.

Next, find an area on your tree that you would like to start your cascading ribbon effect. You will need to tie a loose knot around a branch in the back of the tree to secure the ribbon. See the next too images.

Find an area on your tree that you would like to begin your cascading ribbon effect and tie your knot.

The next steps are subject to your own preference. Make a loop out of the ribbon. I always leave it a few inches off of the tree. If it is too tucked inside of the branches, it will not give you the full effect you will likely want to achieve.

Next, make a crease in the ribbon and tuck it back all the way back in to the tree, so you can start a new loop. You want to take your loop on a slight angle, if you want it to look like mine. You will lose a lot of ribbon, tucking it back into the tree. This will help secure it. And this is why you need so much ribbon! See below.

Then, continue to your next loop and repeat the step above.

Continue until you run out of ribbon.

At the end of your ribbon, you tuck the last loop back into the tree. You do not need to knot it.